The Governorship and State House of Assembly election took place today at various polling units in Nigeria. Unfortunately, many persons were unable to cast their votes.
The reason is because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has postponed elections in their polling units.
INEC is doing so to ensure that every registered voter exercises his or her civil rights.
See some affected locations.
Rivers State
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, postponed the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Asari-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas of River State.
The commission says, “the suspension of the exercise in the two LGAs followed the inability of the Commission to distribute electoral materials in the affected areas”.
INEC’s Head of Voter Education, Mike Usolo, listed these locations while on a telephone conversation with Channels Television.
He says, “in suspending the elections in the affected LGAs, INEC took into consideration the safety of its staff and those of the electorates”.
Benue State
The commission also postponed elections in some areas in Benue State.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Samuel Egwu, told journalist in Makurdi, Benue State that there was an error.
According to him, the postponement was necessary because of the swapping of ballot papers meant for Kwande East to Kwande West.
he says there is need to reprint the ballot papers for both the governorship and the two State House of assembly seats in Kwande.
The reason is because ballot papers had already been exposed.
Lagos State
Some areas of Lagos State were also affected.
However, the reason was different from others.
According to the electoral body, corps members deployed as ad hoc staffs refused to work.
INEC on Saturday announced the postponement of the governorship and state assembly elections in 10 polling units in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
The announcement was made by INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Segun Agbaje, while addressing reporters at the Victoria Garden City (VGC)’s office.
Agbaje says corps members deployed as ad hoc staff were hesitant to enter the VGC estate.
The reason is because they were held hostage during the presidential election held on February 25, 2023.
He said: “We have eight polling units here with 6,024 registered voters and out of which 5,624 people have their PVCs”.
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He says two other polling units at the estate’s main gate were also affected.
“Eight in the estate and two outside.
Remobilisation
“After due consultation and further directive from the national headquarters that we should remobilise here tomorrow (Sunday) morning by 08:30 am to conduct the elections.
“By 08:30 am tomorrow (Sunday), we will reconvene here.”
Agbaje says the chairman of the security committee of the estate had assured the commission of the safety of corps members and INEC staff as well as the safety of voters.
Unfortunate Situation
Some of the polling units affected include PU 032,033, 119 -124.
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The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Tunde Doherty, whose polling unit is in the VGC puts the blame on INEC.
He said INEC had poor arrangement and described the situation as “unfortunate”.
